Colorado coal mining company considers bankruptcy protection

An aerial view of Colstrip power plants 1,2,3 & 4 and the Westmoreland coal mines near Colstrip, Mont., on May 25, 2013. The Colorado company told shareholders recently that it might have to declare bankruptcy.

Larry Mayer/The Billings Gazette via AP

BILLLINGS, Mont. – A Colorado company with three coal mines in Montana and one in Wyoming says in a statement to shareholders that it may consider bankruptcy.

Englewood-based Westmoreland Coal Co. is facing declining demand and more than $1 billion in debt.

The company said in its recently released annual report that it may seek Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection from creditors and a reorganization of the company.

Yellowstone Public Radio reports that Westmoreland executive Jesse Noel said Thursday that the company has debt to restructure and he doesn’t know what’s going to happen.

Noel is Westmoreland’s director of environmental and regulatory affairs. He was participating in a discussion of coal and oil industry representatives at the invitation of U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte.

The company has 14 mines and a power plant in the U.S. and Canada.

Colorado coal mining company considers bankruptcy protection

An aerial view of Colstrip power plants 1,2,3 & 4 and the Westmoreland coal mines near Colstrip, Mont., on May 25, 2013. The Colorado company told shareholders recently that it might have to declare bankruptcy.